COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite second-half goals from senior Kaitlyn Wagner and junior Peanut Johnson, and a standout 11-save performances from freshman goalie Liz Tamburro, the Ohio State field hockey team lost a hard-fought contest to fifth-ranked Syracuse on Friday afternoon, 3-2. The game was the opening contest of the annual Buckeye Classic.

The Buckeyes (0-1), who featured five newcomers in their starting lineup, fought back from a 2-0 second-half deficit and scored a pair of goals just nine minutes apart. Wagner was awarded a penalty stroke following a Syracuse foul, and she quickly converted by beating Orange goalie Jess Jacko with a shot to the upper right of the cage. Ohio State’s equalizer came when freshmen Maddy Humphrey started a fast break down the middle of the field and fed Johnson, who sent a shot past Jacko from seven yards out.

Ohio State’s defense, under siege most of the game from a high-powered Syracuse offense that produced 37 shots, forced overtime when it snuffed out an Orange penalty corner with less than a minute remaining. SU’s Alyssa Manley’s shot from eight yards out was blocked and then saved in front of the goal by Wagner, preserving the tie and forcing the extra session.

In overtime, Ohio State’s best scoring opportunity came on a breakaway by Johnson, who had two shots blocked in front of the Syracuse goal. The Orange’s winning goal came with 8:11 left in the extra period. Emma Russell had a shot saved by Tamburro from point-blank range, but the rebound came right back to her and she converted to give Syracuse the victory.

The Orange outshot Ohio State 37-11 and had a 13-3 edge in penalty corner. Tamburro was brilliant in goal, making 11 saves – the seventh most in single game school history. Her counterpart, Jecko, stopped two shots.

Syracuse’s goals in the 33rd and 38th minutes, respectively. Jordan Page scored off a Buckeye turnover from five yards out and Manley followed with an unassisted tally off a scramble in front of the goal just three minutes into the second half.